• Academic

AI and Cybersecurity: Why Human Judgment Still Matters

AI is changing how we detect cyber threats and how attackers create them. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, A&M Texarkana's Dr. Muhammed Ifte Khairul Islam shares why asking questions, recognizing risks and making informed decisions remain essential.

Learning When to Trust and When to Question AI

For A&M Texarkana Assistant Professor of Computer Science Dr. Muhammed Ifte Khairul Islam, answering these questions begins in the classroom. "Students still need to understand the concepts and be able to explain their own work. I also encourage them to verify AI-generated answers because AI can produce incorrect information very confidently. Knowing when to use AI and when to question its output is becoming an important skill."

AI's Role in Cybersecurity

Questioning AI's answers goes beyond the classroom, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. "Security teams can use it to detect unusual activity and analyze large amounts of data quickly," shared Dr. Islam.
Yet the same tools that help security teams are giving cyber attackers new ways to deceive people. "Attackers can also use AI to create convincing phishing emails, clone voices, and generate fake images or videos. Scams are becoming harder to recognize, so people need to be more careful and aware."

Building Cybersecurity Skills Through Practice

Recognizing those threats takes practice. In computer science courses focused on cybersecurity, students learn how attacks work and how to respond effectively. "Cybersecurity education is very hands-on," Dr. Islam explained.

"Students do not just learn about attacks; they practice identifying and responding to them safely in controlled environments. For example, students may analyze phishing emails, examine network traffic, or find security weaknesses in a test system and learn how to fix them. Many cybersecurity courses also use 'capture the flag' challenges, where students solve security problems like puzzles."

Solving security challenges is only part of the puzzle. "Communication is important too," Dr. Islam explained. "Cybersecurity professionals often need to explain technical risks to people who may not have a technical background."

Why Human Judgment Still Matters

These skills are applicable across industries. As more industries utilize AI, questions about security, privacy, and using it responsibly continue to surface. "AI is changing almost every industry, from healthcare and banking to education and transportation," Dr. Islam shared. "Students entering Computer Science today now have an opportunity not only to use these technologies, but also to help build them and make them safer."

Identifying a possible problem is only the beginning. Someone still needs to understand what it means and how to respond effectively. "Cybersecurity needs people because technology can detect problems, but people still have to understand them and make the right decisions."

How will you help shape the future of technology? Explore A&M Texarkana's Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and 100% online Master of Science in Computer Science degree programs and build the technical and critical thinking skills needed to solve problems in a changing world.